Pingyang Town, Langyun Restaurant.
The surrounding air was thick with boisterous chatter. Just outside the entrance lay South Stone Bridge, water rushing with a splash beneath its arch.
Lanterns hung from every nearby stall, their red gauze encasing warm, lavish pools of light.
A group filed out of the restaurant one after another. Half-drunk, with arms slung over one another's shoulders, their faces shone with delight.
"I really envy Senior Brother Hu for becoming a martial master so quickly. I've only just broken through three gates; I still have a long way to go."
"Langyun Restaurant—Junior Brother Hu sure knows how to treat us! That Drunken Immortal brew was truly magnificent."
Flanked by the others, Hu Qi's face was flushed red, looking thoroughly delighted. "Haha, if Senior Brother Xu likes it, I'll buy two more jugs and send them over to your place, and take a few jugs to Master while I'm at it."
"What about us, then? We all heard that! Senior Brother Hu, you can't just bring some for Senior Brother Xu and Master without bringing any for us, can you?" Xiang Changsong shed his usual gentle demeanor in front of the apprentices, sounding quite lively and playful.
"Ah, haha, I'll bring some for everyone, alright?"
Hu Qi laughed heartily. Today was the day he had broken through four gates and become a martial master. Without the help of his master and senior brothers, he could never have achieved this, so hosting a grand banquet in gratitude was only natural.
Beside Hu Qi at the center of the gathering, a short, lean, and hardy old man stroked his white beard. "There is no need for such extravagance. In recent years, as age catches up with me, I have cut back on drinking."
This man was none other than the true master of the Yang Family Martial Hall—Yang Dongxiong—and the master of everyone present.
A true master, nothing like the fleeting acquaintance and transactional relationship held with the martial hall's apprentices.
"Ah, Master, there's no need to save Senior Brother Hu's money! He's a bona fide martial master now. Once he's registered on the official rolls tomorrow, he'll be earning a government stipend!"
"I fully support fleecing our senior brother!"
"With you brothers' strength, it's only a matter of time. I've merely lived a few years longer," Hu Qi said, half-modest and half-teasing. "Fleecing me now? Don't blame me when I fleece you back later!"
"We'd like nothing more! Nothing more! Hahaha."
Among the crowd, Yang Dongxiong glanced up at the high moon. Counting the hours, he realized it was already the hour of Xu. Seeing everyone in such high spirits, with every intention of chatting on, he spoke up to put a stop to it.
"All right, all right. Today was supposed to be a day for teaching at the martial hall. It was only pushed to the evening because Hu Qi was breaking through his gate and we held a banquet to celebrate. It wouldn't be right to keep them waiting any longer. You all head back now; Hu Qi and I going to the martial hall together will be enough."
Xu Zishuai looked around and shook his head. "How about I tag along to check it out too? I don't have anything urgent to do anyway."
"Right, and we can listen in on the instruction while we're at it."
Yang Dongxiong said in surprise, "Why are you all so diligent today? Had a change of heart?"
Xiang Changsong smiled. "Master, back in the restaurant we were so busy drinking and celebrating that we didn't ask Senior Brother Hu a thing about his breakthrough experience. After sleeping on it, he might not remember it as clearly as today."
Xu Zishuai wagged his head. "I don't really mind either way, but we haven't gathered like this in a long time. It's rare for everyone to be here and in such good spirits, so we might as well hang out a bit longer."
"Then why don't we all go to the martial hall together? While Master instructs the apprentices, we can spar with one another and test what we've learned."
Yang Dongxiong saw no reason to refuse. When it came to breaking through gates, there were always subtle differences from person to person. Gaining more insight was naturally beneficial, helping both himself and his future teaching of disciples.
"Very well, then we shall all go together. No one was keeping watch today; who knows if any trouble has cropped up."
Hu Qi said, "Before going into seclusion, this disciple had Lu Shaohui take over teaching. Junior Brother Lu is also a martial practitioner who has broken through two gates, so there shouldn't be any issues."
"Lu Shaohui?" Yang Dongxiong frowned.
Not everyone was qualified to become his personal disciple. First was natural talent, second was character; some people, even if they had decent aptitude, he would not accept.
In Yang Dongxiong's memory, Lu Shaohui had not made the best impression—a rather aloof person.
"Master, Lu Shaohui's disposition is a bit cold, but he isn't bad. Having him keep an eye on things for a day shouldn't cause any trouble."
"If that's the case, let's go!"
The group crossed South Stone Bridge and headed toward the martial hall.
Unlike the bustling daytime, few passersby walked near the martial hall at night.
Yang Dongxiong led his personal disciples quietly through the corridor, just about to enter the training ground.
"Shut up, you dumbass!"
Yang Dongxiong looked astonished and swiftly raised a hand.
The disciples halted in their tracks.
"Just me is enough! Me alone, beating all of you—every single one of you!"
The suppressed voice poured into their ears, carrying a tidal wave of ferocious emotion that crashed over them.
Even the weakest among them were martial practitioners who had broken through two gates. With keen ears and sharp eyes, they heard every word with crystal clarity.
Hu Qi's entire body went rigid.
Trouble had broken out!
Xiang Changsong pondered for a moment. "That sounds like Junior Brother Liang's voice?"
"Junior Brother Liang?" someone asked, having never met Liang Qu.
"An apprentice who arrived at the beginning of the month. A fisherman from Yixing, a very handsome lad, and polite, too. Every time before leaving, he and his friends sweep the floor clean." In the end, Xiang Changsong added, "Oh, there are three who came from Yixing to study martial arts this month, and they're quite close."
Having finished his explanation, Xiang Changsong turned to apologize. "I'm sorry, Master. I was supposed to stay at the martial hall today. I didn't expect trouble to brew; it's my fault."
Hu Qi stepped forward to shoulder the blame. "If anyone is to blame, blame me. I got carried away after my breakthrough and insisted on dragging everyone to celebrate, or else Junior Brother Xiang wouldn't have abandoned his post."
"Enough. Now is not the time to debate right and wrong." Yang Dongxiong waved a hand, unconcerned by a minor lapse like leaving a post. "We'll go through the back door and find someone to ask what happened."
The group swiftly backed out of the corridor.
Martial masters moved without a sound; not a soul had noticed their arrival.
On the training ground.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at Liang Qu, as if looking at a boy who knew neither the height of the heavens nor the depth of the earth.
Someone who had entered the martial hall barely a month ago wanting to take on seven burly men who had been here for over four months—if that wasn't sheer ignorance of the vast world, what was?
Lu Tingcai and his gang were "repeating seniors" who hadn't broken through any gates in three months and had paid fees to stay on.
No matter how poor their talent was, with four times as much time, their qi and blood were far more robust than that of a newcomer who had been here for only a month!
"Ah Shui, have you lost your mind?!"
Over in the corner by the flowerbed, Li Libo and Chen Jiechang heard this and ignored their pain, staggering to the center of the training ground. Grabbing the hem of Liang Qu's clothes, they tried to drag him back.
Had Li Libo and Chen Jiechang not launched a sneak attack earlier, Lu Tingcai and Xue Dingyi wouldn't have been injured at all, and Li Libo and Chen Jiechang had suffered far worse afterward.
If anyone stripped off their clothes, they would find the pair covered head to toe in dark bruises; managing to stand up at all was already an immense feat.
Having been berated and scorned in such fashion, Lu Tingcai's fury surged all the higher, and he roared, "Even if the three of you come at me together, it'll be the same! Just me is enough!"
"No need. Just me."
Liang Qu stared fixedly at Lu Tingcai as he supported Li Libo and Chen Jiechang by the shoulders, backing up slowly to guide the two of them back.
The pair gripped Liang Qu's clothes tightly. "Ah Shui, what are you trying to do? If you really don't have the money, the two of us will pay for you! Don't go!"
"I haven't lost my mind, and I'm not up to anything reckless." Liang Qu gripped their hands in return, the light in his dark pupils ferocious and piercing. "I just want to knock out their teeth, one by one!"
Chapter 33